I don't know what he was charged or who did the work, but the seller definitely got taken advantage of on this "complete restoration". And he's apparently blissfully unaware just how bad he was robbed. That's the vibe I'm getting from his detailed listing in the link.

Massive pet peeve for me is painting the receiver or supplying a black sticker to cover the rust. Especially when someone does a “full restore”.
It screams laziness. Terry at Pinball Life sells them for what 50-60 bucks?

Will the OP ever be seen again?

OP, next time you spend a lot of money on a game, reach out to me I'd like a lot of money too!!!! And it would be done right the first time!!

Must be the new math in school to get a price like that. The math i was taught back then (dinosaurs were dead) says its that's a 498% fee For 12 pack beer restoration and some parts.

Has anyone actually pm’d him? Always get a kick out of these ridiculous listings with the OP never to be heard from again. Deal with confidence! Lol

If he gets back at all, it would probably be a rude response to a more than fair offer. Seems pretty typical for guys who post games like this with crazy prices. They know better than everyone else.

Hahahaha, "fully restored, $1,000,000, I know what I have". This thread has given me some laughs, I'll give the OP that.

can't believe this is still for sale.

Says OBO, only one way to find out.

Shockingly bad restore, if even restored at all. Cursory image viewings suggest otherwise.

But, good luck with your sale. I'm out, for certain.

I think it's a little cruel to expect someone to return to the thread after a monkey-pile like this. Why would he return for a fresh round of abuse?

You people are insatiable!

At least he was thinking ahead...

Screenshot_20250128_104049_Samsung Internet (resized).jpg

I’d love to read a diplomatic analysis from High End Pins.

Very true, didn't really expect him to return. Lol...However a reasonable response given the amount of backlash...Maybe??? If it were me and I really wanted to sell it, I might try to adjust my expectations and let everyone know I'll at least listen. Clearly no one here would pay this amount, but I guess you never know?

Yea I feel bad for this guy. Clearly not an avid hobbyist / collector as this looked like his only pin and he clearly stated somewhere he is an old timer. He’s probably shocked by all these replies.

Seemed like he was very pleased with the restore based on the price and the final product as I saw in another thread he was discussing tipping whomever did the work. I hope he decides to keep this and maintains that level of happiness. Just go enjoy your game, my man!

Not sure how a $2500 playfield swap morphs into a $14,950 asking price.

Apron decals cost an extra grand

I just read his posts over in the owners thread...seems like a very nice guy. Says he has more into it than his asking price, so unfortunately it looks like he got overcharged.

Unfortunate and the ugly side of humanity.

Shame he was taken advantage of but nothing he can do about it. Change the listing to $5k obo and see how it goes from there.

Agreed. The reality of it is that he really overpaid and got WAY upside down on this one. It's easy do go all the way down the money pit when passions and other emotions are involved. In the end it looks like a nice player that can be enjoyed, but even at 1/3 of his asking price it'd be on the higher end of it's actual value.

To the OP, keep it to enjoy, or try to recover some of what you put into it. It is a nice Cyclone.

Either way good luck!

I'd be shocked if HEP gave any sort of judgment on the pin. I feel like that would be a bit unprofessional on his part if he did.

I'm first in line.

Make him an offer. Perhaps give him a polite but educational explanation of the situation he's in. I'm genuinely interested in his response. I'm firmly in the camp that believes the seller was taken advantage of in a very bad way

I just offered my SOF as part of a trade.

But he's not looking for a trade at this time, and told me to get a loan to purchase it. haha.

Best of luck at that price point.

Get a loan?

He deserves what he has then.

Yeah, I sensed the "i know what i got here..." mentality.

He replied again with "6k is great for a hobbyist refurbished, best wishes." after telling him what i believe would be a fair offer. Then deleted my PM so i couldn't message back. So apparently he thinks his pin meets some sorta professional standard. Side note: PS needs new caps. May want to inform your restorer.

Regardless, GLWTS.

Ouch, I'd way rather play SOF... lol.

So, he's apparently one of those guys then huh? No one can convince him he was taken for a financial ride. He's certain what he's asking is a fair price, and anyone that says otherwise is a fool. This is a "refurbished" machine at best. Sheeeesh......

Now I'm thinking I let my original collector quality Comet, which IMO is a far better game, go for far too little.

But I don't have anything stored in the memory banks of my youth to make it worth more to me or anybody else.

Deleted. I'm done here, lol.

Holy crap, if you have not read the extensive, long winded description that is with the listing linked in this ad, I highly recommend it.

Is this still available?

Tried to, couldn't get through it.

It's great he thought it was an honor to get fleeced by some craigslist/facebook marketplace "pro" restorer.

I still think this has a better chance of selling for asking price than the John Wick LE "don't buy this" thread.

^^^
When hyperbole goes too far.

Yup...I called that one

You made him a very very generous offer. He should have taken it. Its a good thing he's in love with the game because hes gonna be stuck with it for a long time.

$3k by Christmas

Maybe $13k, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S GOT!

to me...I wouldnt pay more than $2500. He's using ebay delusional sellers pin asking prices as his inspiration for setting his price. HEY....COVID IS OVER.

exactly what I was thinking

Perhaps he should change his strategy and do a "don't buy this" style post. That will tantalize people.

He is not moving on price much at all. If you go ALL the way to end on his link, it takes a while to scroll, he has this:

"Perhaps it may never sell, and I guess that’s ok with me deep down, but I hope there is at least a few of you out there that appreciate what the Cyclone represents, a great machine, made at the crossroads of simplicity, and just before the next generation of complicated mechanicals, multiballs, etc. This is such a basic, yet pleasurable machine to pick up and just play, without all the headaches of modern pinball.

I hope the asking price (NO TRADES PLEASE) seems understandable to another collector, knowing there were seemingly innumerable hours put into this. It might honestly take some time to find its new home, and that’s again okay with me, I really just want to know someone out there truly respects all the effort and it goes into a solid collection"

If you don't like his price you must not respect all the effort... lol

He added an extremely long "addendum" which basically tells you how long and much it would cost you to do this yourself.... basically walls of text justifying his price... but don't worry, deep down he is ok if it doesn't sell.

Well, I guess this guy can put a price on love and sentiment...at $14,950.00.

I'd be quite surprised why any collector would spend $14K on this machine rather than talk with HEP?

This 100% If you truly want the best of the best, pick up a players Cyclone, send it HEP, done. And you'll still probably come out cheaper, along with some clout attatched the restoration.

.....SO....its sooo unique that its ranks #174 on pinside. If you was talking Pinbot or Highspeed (thats ranked way higher) i could maybe buy in to a bit of his spill. Bottom line you can only polish a turd so much...that no additional polishing will help.

He could plaster pages of paragraphs exulting the virtues of all his passion and efforts towards this average 80s williams SS ho-hum resto ...and it won't change anybody's mind.

It says this discussion is linked to his ad, i wonder if he's read any of these comments???

He should pawn it here:

That affects me as emotionally as letting my Comet go last week.

Cyclone is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy better. I think you're nuts.

Yep, Comet is absolutely horrible, which is why whenever you have a game for sale or trade somebody offers you one.

He just needs a whale.

I think he's 10k too high.